What is the process for jury deliberations in the Donald Trump trial and when can we expect a verdict to be reached? | US News

May 30, 2024 TruthUSA

The jury has started deliberating in the trial involving Donald Trump’s hush money – with the world awaiting the verdict from the seven men and five women in this historic case.

Deliberations began on Wednesday after numerous witnesses, 16 days of testimony, and extensive closing arguments from attorneys.

Trump is accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with an alleged scheme to suppress stories before his 2016 presidential campaign.

This relates to payments made to Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen after he paid $130,000 (£102,000) to adult film star Stormy Daniels who alleged an affair with Trump in 2006.

Prosecutors claim the payments were falsely categorized as “legal expenses” to conceal the nature of the transactions.

Trump, the first former US president to face a criminal trial, has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

He has compared the charges against him to a scenario where even “Mother Teresa” would fail to beat them.

The jury is now deliberating on whether Trump is guilty of any of the charges.

Here is an overview of how the deliberations process works.

As it unfolded: Trump’s mood downcast as jury begins deliberations

What is the jury considering?

Trump will be convicted if the jury unanimously agrees that he created a false entry in his company’s records, or caused someone else to do so, to carry out or hide a violation of a state law prohibiting conspirators from “promoting or preventing the election of any individual to public office through illegal means”.

A conviction would indicate that the jury believes an illegal act was conducted to benefit Trump’s election campaign.

However, the jurors do not have to agree unanimously on the specifics of the illegal act.

Where will Trump be during the deliberations?

Trump does not need to be present in the courtroom during deliberations, but must remain in the building and has been assigned a room to wait in.

On the second day of deliberations, NBC News discovered that Trump had a television placed in the room. The channel he is watching was not disclosed when asked.

Throughout the trial, Trump, his attorneys, and security team had access to a courtroom nearby for breaks.

Where do deliberations occur?

Deliberations take place behind closed doors in a room designated for the jury.

While the 12 jurors deliberate, the six alternate jurors who observed the trial will be in a separate area in the courthouse.

If a juror is unable to continue due to illness or other reasons, an alternate juror will take their place, and deliberations will restart from the beginning.

What information is revealed about the discussions?

Deliberations are kept confidential, and the jurors’ identities are also shielded from the public.

What do we know about the deliberations so far?

On the first day of deliberations, the jury sent two notes to the judge requesting a review of jury instructions and testimonies from National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump’s former lawyer Mr Cohen.

The jury will not receive a transcript, and the testimonies will be read to them in court instead.

Judge Juan M. Merchan indicated it would take some time to collect the requested sections and about half an hour to read them aloud.

While the attorneys and court were gathering that testimony, jurors also sent a request to rehear the judge’s instructions on the laws applicable to the case.

How long will jurors deliberate?

Jurors will deliberate for as long as necessary.

The typical court day runs from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, with a lunch break.